The Green Lady by Sue Lawrence
1567, Scotland: no place for a woman. Mary, Queen of Scots, is forced to abdicate in favour of her infant son. She can rely only on the loyalty of her ladies-in-waiting, chiefly Marie Seton. Meanwhile the political turmoil in the country is mirrored behind the walls of beautiful Fyvie Castle. Lilias’s marriage to Marie’s nephew, the ruthlessly ambitious Alexander Seton, goes awry after the birth of yet another daughter. He blames her, and contemplates drastic action. To what lengths will a man go to secure a son and heir?
The Green Lady is a shocking tale of intrigue, secrets, treachery and murder, based on true events, but seen from a different perspective than is found in most history books. Casting a fascinating light on the ruthless nature of power, the story highlights the precarious position of sixteenth-century women, even those in the most privileged of circumstances.
About the author
Sue Lawrence is the author of absorbing, popular historical thrillers that cast a fascinating light on the perils and injustice that characterised women’s lives in Scotland through centuries past – whether born into penniless or powerful families: ‘The Unreliable Death of Lady Grange, Down to the Sea, The Night He Left’ and ‘Fields of Blue Flax’ and most recently ‘The Green Lady’. She is also one of the UK’s leading cookery writers and broadcasters. Having trained as a journalist, she won BBC’s MasterChef in 1991 and became a food writer, Cookery Editor of the ‘Sunday Times’ and a regular contributor to ‘Scotland on Sunday’ and many leading magazines, and she appears frequently on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’. Born in Dundee, she was raised in Edinburgh, where she now lives. She has won two Guild of Food Writers Awards and a Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award and is the author of more than 20 books.
Review
‘The Green Lady’ is a fascinating look into the life of an elite patriarchal society but seen from the female perspective!
I am going to admit I don't know that much about this era of Scottish history. I grew up in England and therefore we were taught history from a biased English perspective and never really learnt that much about Mary Queen of Scots and her family. I think I have learnt more about her life from that programme Reign! This is something that I need to rectify and learning more about her life and those around her was fascinating. But this book doesn't concentrate on her it looks at one of her ‘Marys’ Marie Seton and her relationship with her nephew Alexander. But I like that. As a historian, I don't like to concentrate on the main players as you are highly unlikely to find out something that no one else hasn't already discovered. So accounts or even fictionalised realities like this one are ones I adore! Especially when it sends you down google rabbit holes and you spend half the night learning about the facts behind the story!
I loved all the switches between the female characters - Marie Seton and Alexander’s three wives Lilias, Grizel and Margaret and finally Maggie in the 1980s. All five were strong females in their own right but imagine having to marry at age 15 and the pressure to produce a male heir?! I thoroughly enjoyed when Alexander did have to lean on his very young bride Margaret (the age gap was over 30 years) for support as this gave her a semblance of power. Poor Lilias though!
I found this to be a captivating and fascinating read!
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